Powered tool for repairing tire

Abstract

A powered tool for repairing a tire includes an electric power unit, a control unit, a trigger unit, and a speed switching unit. The electric power unit includes a driven shaft adapted to output kinetic energy and a motor driving the driven shaft to rotate. The control unit includes an actuating switch operable to output an actuated signal associated with a movement distance of an actuator and a processing module configured to control rotation of the rotating member at one of first and second rotational speeds according to the actuated signal. The speed switching unit is operable to move between first and second rotational speed positions such that the actuator travels first or second distances as being pushed by the trigger unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A powered tool for repairing a tire, comprising:
 a housing unit that extends along an axis;   an electric power unit that is mounted to said housing unit and that includes
 a driven shaft rotatable and adapted to output kinetic energy, and 
 a motor for converting electrical energy into kinetic energy, and including 
   a rotating member that is rotatable and that drives rotation of said driven shaft;   a control unit that is mounted to said housing unit, and that includes
 an actuating switch including an actuator that is movable, said actuating switch being operable to output an actuated signal that is associated with a movement distance of said actuator, and 
 a processing module electrically connected to said actuating switch and said motor, and configured to control rotation of said rotating member of said motor at one of a first rotational speed and a second rotational speed according to the actuated signal; 
   a trigger unit that is mounted to said housing unit and that includes a trigger operable to actuate movement of said actuator; and   a speed switching unit that is mounted on said housing unit and that includes a speed changing switch operable to move relative to said trigger between a first rotational speed position and a second rotational speed position, said speed changing switch being distal from said trigger when being at the first rotational speed position such that said actuator travels a first distance as being pushed by said trigger, said speed changing switch being adjacent to said trigger and disposed between said trigger and said housing unit when being at the second rotational speed position such that said actuator travels a second distance that is smaller than said first distance as being pushed by said trigger.   
     
     
         2 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said speed changing switch is movable relative to said housing unit along the axis, and has:
 an abutment portion proximate to said trigger, said abutment portion being in contact with said trigger, and disposed between said trigger and said housing unit when said speed changing switch is at the second rotational speed position; and   an operating portion opposite to said abutment portion along the axis and accessible to move said speed changing switch between the first rotational speed position and the second rotational speed position.   
     
     
         3 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said housing unit includes:
 a rear seat section surrounding the axis, distal from said driven shaft, and defining a control unit receiving chamber in which said control unit is disposed; and   an intermediate seat body surrounding the axis, connected to said rear seat section, and defining a power unit receiving chamber in which said motor is disposed.   
     
     
         4 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said housing unit defines a slide space spaced apart from the axis in a direction parallel to a radial line that is substantially perpendicular to the axis, and an opening extending along the axis and in spatial communication with said slide space and external environment;   said speed changing switch is slidable in said slide space along the axis;   said abutment portion extends in a direction parallel to the radial line; and   said operating portion extends through said opening in a direction parallel to the radial line.   
     
     
         5 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said housing unit has two coupling portions disposed in said slide space, spaced apart from each other along the axis, and opposite to each other along the radial line,   said speed changing switch further has two engaging portions respectively complementary in shape with said coupling portions, one of said engaging portions that is adjacent to said operating portion engaging one of said coupling portions when said speed changing switch is at the first rotational speed position, another one of said engaging portions that is adjacent to said abutment portion engaging another one of said coupling portions when said speed changing switch is at the second rotational speed position.   
     
     
         6 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mode switching unit that is configured to transmit kinetic energy from said motor to said driven shaft, that is mounted to said housing unit, and that includes
 a first gear set, and 
 a second gear set including a movable gear that is driven to move relative to said first gear set along the axis between a fixed position, where said movable gear is positioned, and a rotatable position, where said movable gear is rotatable. 
   
     
     
         7 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said first gear set has
 a first carrier spaced apart from said rotating member,   a sun gear co-rotatably connected to said rotating member,   a plurality of first planet gears rotatably connected to said first carrier and meshing with said sun gear, and   a ring gear non-rotatable and meshing with said first planet gears, said first carrier having a sun tooth opposite to said first planet gears along the axis.   
     
     
         8 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein:
 said movable gear is annular;   said second gear set further includes
 a second carrier co-rotatably connected to said driven shaft, and 
 a plurality of second planetary gears rotatably connected to said second carrier, meshing with said sun tooth, and meshing with and surrounded by said movable gear, said second planetary gears rotatable relative to the movable gear about said sun tooth when said movable gear being at the fixed position where said movable gear is non-rotatable; and 
   said movable gear is driven by and rotating with said second planetary gears when said movable gear is at the rotatable position.   
     
     
         9 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said second gear set further includes a toothed ring gear;   said movable gear meshes with said toothed ring gear and is not rotatable when being at the fixed position; and   said movable gear disengages said toothed ring gear along the axis when being at the rotatable position.   
     
     
         10 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said housing unit includes a front seat section surrounding the axis and defining a speed changing chamber;   said driven shaft is rotatably connected to said front seat section; and   said first gear set and said second gear set of said mode switching unit are disposed in said speed changing chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 said housing unit defines a slide space spaced apart from said speed changing chamber in a direction parallel to a radial line that is substantially perpendicular to the axis, and an opening extending along the axis and in spatial communication with said slide space and external environment; and   said mode switching unit further includes a mode switching unit slidable in said slide space along the axis, connected to said movable gear, and having an accessible portion that extends through said opening in a direction parallel to the radial line.   
     
     
         12 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said mode switching unit further includes
 a ring seat connected to said front seat section, extending into said speed changing chamber, and has a through hole, said first gear set and said second gear set being disposed in said ring seat, and 
 a torsion spring mounted on said ring seat, having two opposite end portions that respectively connected to said mode switching unit and said movable gear; and 
   said movable gear has an annular groove formed in an outer peripheral surface of said movable gear and engaging one of said end portions that extends through said through hole and that is connected to said movable gear.   
     
     
         13 . The powered tool as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein:
 said speed changing switch has a linkage portion extending toward said movable gear;   said movable gear has an annular groove formed in an outer peripheral surface of said movable gear and engaging said linkage portion; and   said movable gear is co-movable with said speed changing switch along the axis and is rotatable relative to said linkage portion.